Caretaker leaves hospice patient without food, water or oxygen for days, Missouri cops say
A caretaker is accused of abandoning an elderly cancer patient and leaving her with no food, water or access to her oxygen machine, Missouri police said.
Tammy Lynn Stark, 48, was charged with abuse of an elderly person, stealing and possession of a controlled substance, according to court records filed Feb. 19. McClatchy News reached out to Stark’s attorney Feb. 24 for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Chillicothe police responded Jan. 6 to calls from hospice workers about a patient who was “found in a severely neglected state” after being left alone for several days, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The patient had no access to food or water, her oxygen machine was turned off, she had open sores on her body and a full catheter, police said.
Upon admission at a local hospital, she was found to be septic, “profoundly dehydrated,” and showing evidence of aspiration, records show.
Authorities said about 35 of the patient’s prescribed Oxycodone pills were missing, according to the probable cause.
The patient’s son told police Stark agreed to be the woman’s full-time caregiver in exchange for living in her home, court records show.
Authorities searching Stark’s room found “drug paraphernalia, including methamphetamine smoking pipes with residue and a hypodermic needle,” records show.
Stark was located and arrested at a local convenience store Jan. 16, according to the probable cause.
She was booked on $25,000 bond, jail records show.
Chillicothe is about a 90-mile drive northeast from Kansas City.
This story was originally published February 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Caretaker leaves hospice patient without food, water or oxygen for days, Missouri cops say."
